Shotgun shell and follower



Nov. 10, 1931; D. w. KING SHQTGUN SHELL AND FOLLOWER Filed Dec. 26. 1928 INVENTOR. 0:4 l/V. ff/A/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 19 31 Han STATES DEAN W. KING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SHO'IGUN SHELL,AND lFOLLOWER- Application filed December 26, 1928. Serial No. 328,533.

My invention relates to improvements in shot gun shells and followers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

In repeating shot guns, the cartridges are placed end to end in a magazine and a springpressed member presses against the forward end of the line and urges the cartridges into 1 the receiver of the arm one at a time. The covering of the cartridges for shot guns is cardboard or a heavy paper, and this paper is crimped at the top of the cartridge in order to secure in place a shot-retaining member.

'15 This crimped end is oftentimes bent out of shape by the force of the cartridges pressing against each other while in the magazine. It

is obvious that the bending or distorting of V ad acent shell, and 1t Wlll be noted that the casing 1 is crimped at 6 and that thiscrimped the crimped ends out of shape will tend to prevent the effective feeding of the cartridges to the chamber of the gun.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a shell or cartridge. having a recessed head for receiving the crimped end of the adjacent shell and for holding this crimped end against being forced out of shape.

The follower in the magazine is also provided with a recess in the end that contacts with the crimped end of the shell.

vide a cartridge or shell in which the base wadding disposed in the head of the shell is packed and shaped for preventing the explosion from leaking between the casing of the shell or throughthe base wadding and pressing the recess in the head out of shape. A reenforcing piece of metal may be disposed in the head to aid the wadding.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction and which is durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanymg drawlngs, 1n which A further object of my invention is to pro- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a shotgun magazineshowin'g' shellsin place; a V Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional new of two abutting shells;

' Figure 3 is a plan view of the shell'head;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified shell head V Figure 5 is a section along the line 5- 5 of Figure 4;"and

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure '5 but showing another modification.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a shell or cartridge having a casing 1, ahead 2, and a percussion cap 3. "The latter is mounted in base wadding 4, and hasan opening disposed adjacent to powder 5 carried by the shell.

FigureQ shows the forward part of an end seats in a recess 7 in the head 2. The recess is annular and [may be reinforced as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Figures 4 and '5 show"radially-extending corrugations-'8,

while Figure 6 shows circular corrugations 9.

If desired, a metal "plate or Washer 10 may be disposed between the wadding 4 and the end of the head 2, andthis plate may have V inwardly-extending annular flanges for acting as reinforcing means. I

It will be noted that outside the recess 7 the material of the head 2 is bent upon itself to merge into the cylindrical part of the head and this construction creates a certain weakness 1n so far as it might allow the wadding '4 under the power of the explosion to force itself into the folded corner section of the head and to distort the head to such an extent as to make theremoval of the shell more difficult. To avoid this danger I provide the reinforcing plate or washer 10 with an outer flange 16 which fits into a registering recess 17 in the casing 1 and is firmly anchored between the casing and the head. This washer with its outer flange atthe same time serves as a bridge to cover the split at the corner of the head, and thereby prevents distortion due to explosion. 1 In Figure l, I show a number of the shell placed in a magazine 11 of a repeating shot drical section encircling the cylinder and having an outwardly flaring flange and a disc section formed with an annular groove having a flange running substantially parallel to the former and merging thereinto at its extremity.

5. A shot un shell as defined in claim 4 having awas er bridging the two flanges and reinforcing the same against spreadin DEAN W. KIN

ing the forward ends'of adjacent shells. The Y term follower might be considered generic to the follower 12 and the heads 2 for want of a better term. v i

The shells are moved toward the left in Figure 1 by the spring 14 as they are needed. The shells will be delivered one at a time to the receiver, and the forward ends' of the shells will be in perfect condition, because I theywill have been prevented from being bent out of shape due to the recesses 7 and 13. Since the crimped end 6 has not been distorted, spread, upset, or flattened, the feeding of the shell will not be affected by the crimped end. I have found that when shells are moist the ends are apt to be bent out of shape far more readily than when dry. The recesses prevent this bending out of shape even though the shells are moist.

It should be noted that thecorrugations 8 and 9 are very slight and minute in order that they will not distort the crimped ends 6 of adjacent shells. The reenforcing steel washer 10 may be used in connection with the wadding 4 or dispensed with, this depending upon the size and type of shell manufactured.

Although I have shown and'described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the same "is susceptible of various changes, and I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: a Y

1. A shell having a head with an annular recess in its closed end shaped for receiving and supporting the forward end 'of an abutting shell, and a reinforcing washer for said recess, said washer being disposed in said head, the wall of said annularrecess having reinforcing corrugations therein.

2. A shell having a head with an annular recess in its closed end shaped for receiving and supporting the forward end of an abuting shell, the wall of said annular recess having reinforcing corrugations therein.

3. A shot gun shell comprising a cylinder formed with an external recess in one end thereof, a cap for the end having a cylin drical section encircling the cylinder and an end portion with an annular groove in the rim section thereof, and a backing for the groove havlng a flange extendlng into the recess.

4:- A shot gun shell comprising a cylinder 7 and a cap for the same comprising a cylin- 

